The Clouded Leopard and the Nose Flute ( Harimau om Suling)

The largest wild cat in Borneo is the famous Clouded Leopard. Known as harimau by the Sukang tribe that lives down the Kinabatangan River, famously known as mondou by the Kadazan dusun of Penampang and Tengara tribes and tananansat by the Tobilung tribe. It's length can be from one and a half metres long and has markings that are cloud-like on its body. Being a very shy animal, it hunts mainly during the night and stays in the forest canopy.

Long ago when the world is still young, it is said that the harimau was a very ferocious animal and they eat human beings even. One evening, a villager played a suling (flute)  in the Kinabatangan River. His suling was unique. It is pointed at the end and is played by blowing the suling holes by a nostril while blocking the others with a wad of tobacco. 

While this young man was playing his suling, the hungry ferocious harimau crept up to the end of the forest to see what was making such noise. It inched forward and when it noticed that the man didn't noticed, it moved faster until it was quite close to the man before encircling him as it licked its lips with saliva dripping to the ground.

The man, unperturbed, continued to play his suling and ignored the animal completely. As the animal suddenly pounce to strike the man with its paw, the man poked the pointed end of the suling into its paw and pierced it. 

The harimau howled fearsomely and tried to get rid of the suling that was pierced in its paws but fail. At last, it begged the man to remove the suling from its paw as it felt too much pain. The harimau said " I promise that I and my descendants will not eat you or your descendents as long as you or they are playing the suling."

Then, the man thought about it and immediately pulled the suling out of its paws. Since then, Clouded Leopards stay away from villages whenever they hear the sound of the suling. In fact, they lived as far from human habitation as possible and are hardly ever seen nowadays.

Narrated by KK Jabil bin Bahiri
Source: Animal Tales of Sabah, P.S. Shim

The Orang Utan and the Jew's Harp (Kogiu om Bungkau)

In the local language of the Kadazandusun, the orang utan is also know as kogiu which only slightly smaller than the gorilla. These creatures can be found on two islands only: Borneo and Sumatera.

Once upon a time, there lived a hunter who is fond of playing a musical instrument locally known as the bungkau or in English, Jew's Harp. He took it with him wherever he went. One fine day, he saw a large kogiu sitting high up on a tree. Without hesitation, he took his blowpipe and shot darts laced with poison at the kogiu. Unfortunately, the kogiu was too high up the tree for the poisonous darts to reach.

The hunter sat down and thought of an idea. His bungkau! He took it out and played it. The kogiu, who have never heard or seen such instrument, became fascinated by the siren-like music that he climbed own a little to hear the music better. The hunter noticed this but continued on to play the bungkau. The kogiu moved closer and more closer to the ground that when it got within the range of the blowpipe, the hunter shot 51 darts at the kogiu. The kogiu became dizzy, lost its grip and fell dead into the Liwatong Kadiu River near Ulu Malagatan.

The kogiu was carried by the hunter to the village and swore loudly, "Any kogiu that comes close to the areas where the bungkau is being played will follow the same fate as this dead kogiu."

From that very day onwards, the kogiu are always afraid of bungkau music.


(Narrated by KK Jabil bin Bahiri)
Source: Animal Tales of Sabah, P.S. Shim

Ghost tourism mulled (2011)

Sabah planning holding cultural festival featuring mythical creatures

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wants to be known for more than just its scenic surrounding and warm hospitality.

This year, the State will introduce to the world its other hidden charm – the spine-chilling, scary-world of supernatural and ghosts!

The Ministry of Tourism Culture and Environment is mulling over the idea of having a cultural festival where mythical creatures such as ghosts, are the highlights of the event.

With interest in the supernatural spreading like a plague, and ghost or paranormal tourism sky-rocketing worldwide, this may not be a bad idea at all.

Ghost tourism has boomed over the past decade, and today is almost as popular as health tourism, shopping tourism or even the conventional eco-tourism.

There are hundreds, perhaps even thousands of ghost tours offered on line, attracting a stream of travellers looking for that tingling hair-raising sensation back their neck.

Not many cities in the world today are without their own spooky attraction, mostly in a form of haunted places. Perhaps it is time for the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to call for a few ghosts of their own and scared the life out of some tourists.

This year’s Folklore Festival could indeed be a turning point for Sabah to explore this new and exciting tourism niche.

After all, the belief in and the fear of ghosts among the various ethnics in Sabah are often kept alive through story telling and folk tales.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Bolkiah Ismail said introducing a cultural festival that features mythical creatures, specifically ghosts, is a good way to understand the way of life of the ethnic communities.

These creatures, to be portrayed based on the beliefs of the 32 ethnic groups in Sabah, would offer a glimpse into the myths and folk tales of our communities, an interesting offering for the curious visitors.

“We cannot escape myths and folk tales of our communities that affect our way of life. Having a festival like this can also clarify a lot of misconceptions, especially mythical creatures like ghosts,” he told reporters after the launch of a mascot for the Sixth Sabah International Folklore Festival 2011 here  yesterday.

The mascot known as Bal-Bal, a bird to symbolise a person with black magic, was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

Bal-Bal, according to Sabah Cultural Board general manager Datu Rosmadi Sulai, was actually a form of black magic practised by the Iranun community in the past.

It was often confused by society with the flying vampire known in Sabah as Balan-Balan or Hantu Penanggal in the peninsula, a creature which head can detach from its body and fly out into the night to seek its victims.

Balan-Balan is just one of our many mystical creatures, in addition to countless types of ghosts that are feared in our society.

If the west have their vampire and the undead, we have tompulalanggoi (means a very tall or giant ghost in Dusun), kelindahau (a sort of ghost in Brunei language also known as Hantu Tetek among other ethnics), hantu raya, hantu bangkit and many more.

Those who are familiar with the local folklore in Sabah knows that our cultures are steeped in the secrets of the paranormal.

But while other characters like Count Dracula need no introduction, ours like balan-balan, tompulalanggoi and kelindahau are less famous, which makes them even more mysterious and appealing to the outsiders.

(Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/23/ghost-tourism-mulled/)

Works of the Tinalangan: Siblings who went missing after hearing ‘noises’ return home (2012)

KOTA KINABALU: Two siblings, including a seven-year-old boy, who were reported missing for more than a week have returned home.


Jaxfelix Calvin Goekan, and his sister Suina Goekan, 27, who were last seen near an electric transformer in the village around 1.30pm on July 26, returned to their home at Kampung Kirurau Pulutan, Menggatal around 9am, yesterday.

Their mother, Taini Sumping, 54, said her children returned home around 9am looking tired and weak, but did not show any signs of physical abuse.

“I could not believe my eyes when my two children suddenly returned home by themselves after being missing for almost a week.

”I was doing my morning chores when I peeked outside my window hoping to see my children and to my surprise, they were sitting outside.

”I quickly ran downstairs to bring them in and fed them rice and a few dishes I had prepared earlier for the rest of my children,” said Taini when met at Likas Hospital yesterday.

According to the mother of six, Calvin and Suina heard many voices while they were walking home but realized that there was actually nobody there.

“They said they tried to walk home after running away from the noises they heard, but could not find their way home for some mysterious reason. They also did not mention of any foul play by anyone.

”Many local villagers believe that it was the ‘tinalangan’, a mystic creature which misled people into the forest and they will get lost for days. I don’t know what to think. I am just happy that they are home,” she said.

Taini is glad that her children have finally returned home while she waited patiently in Likas Hospital yesterday.

Taini said Calvin and Suina were surviving on ‘liposu’ (a local sour fruit) and pineapples that they found while wandering in the forest as well as drinking water from a river for eight days.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped in every way they could, especially those who have dedicated prayers to our family,” she said.

Likas Hospital officials could not release much information about the health conditions of the siblings but they appeared to be stable as of press time.

Calvin received treatment to his feet, believed to be due to the non-stop walking for eight days and both siblings were given IV drips.

“We are keeping a close eye on both Calvin and Suina as they appear to be very weak and seem to be suffering from dehydration.

“We will update family members if there are any updates on the siblings’ health condition,” said one of the doctors who was attending to Calvin and Suina.

The doctor however wished not to be named.

Calvin and Suina were reported missing on Thursday, July 26 in Kampung Kirurau Pulutan, Menggatal, while Suina was allegedly walking Calvin home from school that day.

Sources say that they were last seen at a location nearby an electricity transformer in Kampung Kirurau Pulutan at about 1.30pm the day they were reported missing.

A day-long search effort which involved locals, the police, Fire and Rescue Department, People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) and the Civil Defense Department (JPAM) failed to retrieve any clues to the whereabouts of Calvin and Suina.

The case had also sparked a massive awareness and information effort on social networking website, Facebook with details of the case and a picture of Calvin being spread since last weekend.

(Source from: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/04/siblings-who-went-missing-after-hearing-noises-return-home-update/#ixzz2LVaU4pFM)

Tompuvan: The Kadazandusun Fairy

The Kadazandusun fairy or known as "Tompuvan"  in the Tangaah district is a female person who has been cast away or who has became an outcast of the community or society in which she belonged. She has been cast away because of jealousy and hatred towards her - many believe because she was beautiful - by a vengeful person or witch.

The vengeful witch, using the power of the occult put a curse on the poor beautiful person and reduced her to become a "stray", a zombie-like person who by day, became hideous in looks and by night, beautiful.

But she is made to wander in the jungle or forests and lived in the Nunuk tree or bayan tree or fig trees, whose fruits are the favourites of Orang Utan, birds and other forest dwellers. The Tompuvan - meaning cursed outcast beings - also prefer to live under the canopy of the Nunuk Tree.

The Kadazandusun opinion of the Tompuvan is that she is not evil, but cursed, but that this curse could one day be erased and she could one day be erased and she could return to her original being again. But she is seen as a person with long hair, down to her waist, flowing behind her as she runs in the forest to avoid the humans. The Tompuvan was either dressed in long black gown or white and never wore any veil to cover the head.

Harvest Festival Series ~ Which Dialectial Ethnic Groups belong to Kadazandusun?

The term “Kadazandusun” was conscientiously debated and unanimously passed at the 5th KCA Delegates Conference (November 4th & 5th, 1989), as the best alternative approach to resolve the “Kadazan” or “Dusun” identity crisis that had crippled and impeded the growth and development of the Kadazandusun multi-ethnic community socio-culturally, economically and politically ever since the Kadazanism versus Dusunism sentiment was politicized in the early 1960′s. With combined self and collective confidence and determination, there is every reason for the Kadazandusuns to succeed in finally establishing a common cultural identity for a united, cooperative and progressive community.

For at last (even as we are multi-ethnic), we have found a unifying sense of dignity and brotherhood in the reference to ourselves as Kadazandusuns, which means: Divinity in Humanity.

The Kadazandusun Cultural Association’s (KDCA) constitution, Article 6 (1) defines the Kadazandusuns as the definitive indigenous peoples of Sabah comprising the following dialectical ethnic groups:

Bonggi	Lundayo	Sukang
Bundu	Makiang	Sukang
Dumpas	Malapi	Sungei
Gana	Mangkaak	Tatana
Garo	Minokok	Tangara
Ida’an	Murut	Tidong
Kadayan	Nabai	Tindal
Kimaragang	Paitan	Tobilung
Kolobuan	Pingas	Tolinting
Kuijau	Rumanau	Tombonuo
Lingkabau	Rungus	Tuhawon
Liwan	Sinobu	Tutung
Lobu	Sinorupu	Bisaya
Lotud	Sonsogon

and persons whose mother tongue is any of the above dialect and who habitually practices and expresses the traditions, custom and other cultural manifestations of the same.

Sources: KDCA

Animal Charms

Besides the superstitions of the natives mentioned previously, one of the interesting things that you could relate to tourist is the native’s beliefs in animal charms. For it is amazing to know how they make good use of these animals and the belief that animals have magic powers which could bring them luck.

Take for example, the gecko or house lizard. Usually it has only one tail. But if by chance it is branched, then try to catch it because it is supposed to bring luck if you are a gambler. When you catches it one must try not to break the tail or the charms will be lost.

The charm of a snake is probably the most outstanding of all animal charms. It is said to have the power of making a person invisible. Look for a snake that is just casting off its skin. Take hold of its tail and wait until the snake moves away. Immediately after that, tie the abandoned skin around the waist. It will make the user invisible, whenever he wants to be. A soldier to have this around him make him fight courageously without fear of death.

A gambler may also look for snake who is half swallowing a frog or rat. If he is brave enough he will chop off the snake’s head with its victim and keep it. But the half swallowed creature should never be pulled out, otherwise the value will be lost forever. This charm can also be used when running long distances.

The next charmer is the mousedeer or the ‘Pelanduk’. Normally, a pelanduk has no horns. It therefore sound unusual that a hunter is always on the look-out for a horned mousedeer. If he is lucky indeed and find one, in order to shoot it he has to take off all his clothing quietly. The carcass must then be left rot for a few days before the little horn can be taken. This precious little horn is said serve as a valuable omulet. It will make the user invisible. He will not be harm by any weapon or bullet. However, before using it, it is advisable to try the charm on any living thing. This is a precaution because the charm might not work.

If you want to have the strength or energy for running or for field events, try catching a centipede chasing after a lizard. Immediately catch both and put them into a bamboo container. Let them be there for a day or two to die until only their skeletons are left. After that wrap them in a piece of black cloth. Tie it around the arm or the waist. Anyone who has it is supposed to move like wind.

It is also belief that during childbirth, a certain evil spirit known as ‘belan-belan’ will come to suck the mother’s blood. So to prevent its from smelling the blood of the mother a tail of a shark should be kept in order to protect the newborn baby and the mother. Some branches of the lime tree should also be hang around the house. A large fire lit beside it.

If you have cats, watch out for a kitten with a spotted fur, which is ofter black, white and yellow in colour. Normally, either male or female cats do not have spotted furs. However, if a spotted female kitten if found, the owner certainly has all the luck she can hope for !


Sources: KDCA, Joana K-Kissey, "Superstitions"